Lesser Velutaria

Lesser Velutarian Empire Rygālic Empire
Flag
Capital	Volustia
Largest city	Vynāle
Official languages	Rygālic
Ethnic groups	Rygālic, Udkaan
Demonym(s)	Velutarian
Government	Absolute Monarchy
• Military Governor	Rho den Aēl
• Empress	Atēro den Blessi
Legislature	Rygālic Assembly
Establishment
• Unification of Rŷgälic Kingdoms	23.10.1906
Area
• Total	484,903 km2 (187,222 sq mi)
Population
• 2018 estimate	54,233,619
Currency	ini
Date format	dd.mm.yyyy

Geography

Lesser Velutaria is situated on the eastern continent of Meredonne, between latitudes 10° and -5°, and longitudes 159° and 167°. It shares a border with Hibernistan to the north, Udkaal to the west, Dohyo no Deshi to the southwest, and Southern Velutaria to the South. Lesser Velutaria also encompasses three territories not connected to the mainland, as well as the isle of Vythe. Velutaria spans two timezones but operates under a localized "timezone". Velutarian topography includes mountains, hills, plains, and highlands.

The main upland area occupies most of the western and southwestern parts, with lowlands in the northern and eastern parts of the country. The western part of the country is mountainous and hilly, with mountain ranges reaching up to 1,100 meters (3,600 ft). These ranges include the northwestern Haveji mountain ranges and the southern Veojîn mountain shield. In the north, the Havji mountains form a major drainage divide, separating rivers that flow south into the Ikeni Basin from rivers that empty into the Shā River system to the north. In the central lowlands, Height ranges from 400 meters (1,300 ft) to sea level, with sheer cliffs cover most of the eastern coast. Again in the south, the Veojīn mountains form a drainage divide, separating rivers that flow east into the Ädecho Ocean from rivers that empty into the Tavîr riverbasin to the southwest.

The island of Vythe is off the northeastern coast of mainland Velutaria. The Vōssten mountains separate the island into three main parts, the northwest, center, and south. The northwest occupies the Sirallen lowlands and the western peninsula, and rivers flow westward into the Ādecho Ocean. The center consists of the Vōssten mountains and the Vôssten coast, with heighs ranging from 900 meters (2,900 ft) to sea level. The Vōssten mountains also contain several volcanoes, most of which are inactive. In the south it is mostly hilly and lowlands, with sheer cliffs covering most of the southern coast.

Climate

As a result of the southern portion of the country lying along the equator, the climate tends to be even year-round. Velutaria has two seasons, a wet and a dry season, with no extreme temperture changes such as winter or summer. For most of Velutaria, the dry season falls between December and April, with the wet season between May and December. Velutaria's climate is almost entirely tropical, dominated by the tropical rainforest climate. More cooling climate types do exist in mountainous regions that are 2,000 to 3,300 metres (6,561 to 10,826 ft) above sea level.

Culture

Cuisine

Rygālic cuisine is the cuisine of the Velutaria, as well as parts of Udkaal and Southern Velutaria.

The most important staple is corn, coming in various shapes, sizes, textures, and colors, it is eaten as cornbread, gruel, or couscous. The cooking of maize grains in alkaline solutions, a process called nixtamalization, significantly raised the nutritional value of the common staple. Other major crops include potatoes, beans, squash, peppers, tomatoes, giving the average Velutarian a well rounded diet, without any significant deficiencies in vitamins or minerals. Other minor crops include bananas, pineapple, avacadoes, papaya, peanuts, cashews, and dragon fruit.

Corn is used in a variety of different ways, from cornbread, gruel or couscous, to grilled and roasted. Corn is the most important staple crop, being used in almost every meal. Potatoes are used in a variety of ways and are mostly boiled and roasted. Beans are mostly ground up and used as a powder in sauces and soups. Squash are used in a variety of ways, but are usually sliced up and grilled. Peppers and tomatoes are used to a lesser effect, though peppers are added into couscous occasionally. Bananas, pineapples, avacadoes and papaya are usually eaten raw, though pineapple will often be grilled, and papayas will be cooked. peanuts and cashews will be either salted and roasted or simply roasted. Dragon fruit is eaten raw.

Water, drinks made from fermented fruit, honey, corn and alcohol are the most common drinks. Nobles prefer drinks made from cacao, which is often flavored with honey.

The Rygālic diet also consists of a variety of fish and wild game, as well as milk, cheese, and honey. Velutarians have domesticated ducks, geese, goats, and llamas for food. The fishing industry is quite large in Velutaria, with fish being dried, cooked, roasted and grilled in almost all of the coastal areas. Wild game is more popular in the western parts of the country, with several different animals typically being hunted for their meat. Goats are primarily kept for their milk, cheese and wool, while llamas are raised for their meat, and are used as pack animals in the mountains of eastern Velutaria. Ducks and Geese are typically farmed for feathers, eggs, and white meat. Meat is typically roasted, grilled or dried into jerky.